Alumni reunion rekindles Yale-NUS community spirit

Old friends reconnected on the Yale-NUS campus during the reunion. Photo by Martin Choo (Class of 2023) for Yale-NUS College.

Yale-NUS College was bustling with activity on 21 May 2022, with alumni returning to campus to relive fond memories and co-create the College’s future.

The reunion began with a mixer at The Oculus after registration. Beverages from Brewhouse, a student-run coffee cart, and snacks and crafts stations scattered throughout campus kept spirits high, as did the simple pleasure of reuniting with familiar faces from across the world to recount shared experiences and memories.

“I really missed the vibrant vibe of the campus,” remarked Lingges Rao (Class of 2019). “It is nice to catch up with people I haven’t seen for so long,” Lana Allen (Class of 2021) concurred, adding, “It is nostalgic to see everyone in the same place again.”

The nostalgia extended to faculty members, many of whom fostered close relationships with students through classes and research opportunities. “It is heartening to see how they have grown from the time they were in my class as first-years,” commented Associate Professor of Science (Life Sciences) Hoon Eng Khoo.

The newest graduands — the Class of 2022 — were also warmly welcomed into the alumni family. “There is a real sense of community here, being able to see familiar faces in my year and from the other Classes,” offered Nur Hazeem Abdul Nasser (Class of 2022).

The formal programming commenced with a light-hearted faculty-alumni debate. Referencing the ideal of a virtuous “gentleman” in ancient Indian and Chinese philosophy as studied in the Yale-NUS Common Curriculum, Associate Professor of Humanities (Literature) Mira Seo and Nicholas Lua (Class of 2019) took to the stage for the motion: “Yale-NUS has a moral obligation to cultivate our younger sibling, NUS College, to achieve the refinement of gentlemen.” Through sharp-witted comments that drew hearty laughter from the audience, both sides reaffirmed the continued relevance of a liberal arts education in a rapidly changing world and the resilience of the Yale-NUS legacy.

Associate Professor of Humanities (Literature) Mira Seo defending her stance at the faculty-alumni debate. Image by Martin Choo (Class of 2023) for Yale-NUS College.

 A series of games followed, ranging from a Kahoot game on facts about Yale-NUS to a treasure hunt around campus. Nur Qistina (Class of 2017), an alumna who helped to organise the treasure hunt, described the games as a “low stakes, really casual way to revisit shared parts of the campus and shared experiences.”

“We started the Class-based reunions because we figured people would want to touch base with one another,” shared Qistina. “We have not seen each other in forever!”

Besides reminiscing , the reunion was also a vital opportunity to look towards the future. President Designate Professor Joanne Roberts, Vice President of Engagement Dr Trisha Craig, Dean of Students Dr Dave Stanfield, and Dean of Faculty and Visiting Wong Ngit Liong Professor of Science (Life Sciences) David Post, shared their plans for the future of Yale-NUS College in a panel discussion titled, “Looking Ahead: What to Expect in the Coming Years.” In a packed Performance Hall, each of them detailed the College’s commitment towards an engaged community and a fulfilling experience in the next few years, including maintaining an ample selection of courses and continuing international experiences and opportunities.

Our alumni are an integral part of the Yale-NUS community. During the session, Dr Craig highlighted the importance of supporting alumni and fostering their engagement. “It is really important to me that we support our alumni, and our Shared Interest Group programme allows like-minded alumni, who have common interests or identities, to come together to make a difference in the world with our support.” Yale-NUS alumni can also connect with students through the alumni advising and mentorship initiative or tap on Yale University’s Cross Campus network.

The evening’s activities included a candlelight ceremony, a favourite Yale-NUS tradition. Image by Martin Choo (Class of 2023) for Yale-NUS College.

As part of the reunion, alumni were invited to a candlelight ceremony, a longstanding Yale-NUS tradition typically featured at Orientation to symbolise membership and continuity in a community of learning and discovery. Gathered in their respective Classes at the Multi-Purpose Hall, the candle flame was passed from one Class to the next, marking the inheritance of knowledge and community to the Class of 2022, the newest members of the alumni community.

As night fell, the courtyards — always a community space for Kingfishers to meet and interact — took centre stage. Alumni gathered in the Saga Courtyard for a screening of Dead Poets Society, sitting with old friends on picnic mats. In homage to the arts culture scene at Yale-NUS, the Black Box Theatre held an open mic session for anyone to share their hopes and dreams about the College and the world at large. The flurry of activity did not settle till well into the night, and when it did, it was clear that the camaraderie shaped by all connected to the College would persist for years to come.